My recommended things to do in and around Montrose
As always, I aim to show you places in Scotland that don't always make it to the guide books or other travel blogs. i think it is fair to say that the town of Montrose in Angus falls in to that category. I rarely hear of tourists including it in their travel plans and as with many places in Scotland, that comes mostly down to the fact it is not promoted very well meaning visitors don't know what it has to offer.
Even after some online and guidebook research, I still wasn't sure what there was to do in Montrose and whether it was worth exploring. Fate stepped in as I ended up staying just across the river in the village of Ferryden. This gave me 4 days to check out as many things to do in the Montrose area as possible. It turned out there was more than enough to keep me busy. It might not be the first place you think of for a short break in Scotland, however after reading about all the diverse Montrose attractions that I managed to pack in, you might just be inspired to add it to yourScotland itinerary. I've also marked all of the places mentioned in a handy interactive map at the bottom of this post. Montrose Beach
The east coast of Scotland is blessed with some fantastic beaches and Montrose Beach is up there with the best of them. The vast expanse of pristine sand stretches for over 3 miles and is popular with families and dog walkers. This was one of our first stops in Montrose, mainly so Willow could get a run about, but the humans enjoyed it too!
Plenty of nearby parking is a bonus and the adjacent promenade is perfect for a leisurely stroll. With a children's play area, cafe, art deco pavilion and William Lamb statue (see below), it is a worthwhile destination even if you don't venture down on to the sand. The Walkhighlands website features a circular walk of just over 7 miles that starts at Montrose Beach if you are keen to explore more of the area on foot. Montrose Museum
I've said it before on other blog posts but museums are usually my first stop when I visit a new destination and Montrose was no exception. I love to learn a bit about a place before I start exploring as I appreciate my location more when I've educated myself on some of the history and culture first.
Montrose Museum was purpose built in 1842 to display the growing collections of the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society. The neo-classical building is impressive from the outside with lonic columns either side of the entrance-way and Greek key design features. The interior is just as remarkable, with an atrium, mezzanine and galleries. The museum collections cover many eras including early archaeological finds, the Jacobite period, maritime history of the area and much more. There is also an art gallery with changing exhibitions. I think this is a great museum with enough displays to be interesting but not too much information to be overwhelming. It is also free to visit which means adding it to your Montrose itinerary seems an obvious choice. Montrose Heritage Trail
If there is a way to learn about places that I love even more than museums, it is by following heritage trails. History isn't behind glass cases on these walks, it is all around, and you usually discover lots of details that are easily missed if you don't know where to look. It is also a way of increasing your daily steps without noticing which is always a bonus for someone like me who hates working out in a stuffy gym!
While I was in the museum I picked up a leaflet for the Montrose Heritage Trail and decided that was would be next on my itinerary. I actually picked up quite a few leaflets for different heritage trails in Angus so I'm looking forward to trying more out in the future. The Montrose Trail should take about 90 minutes to complete and you can expect to cover a good part of the town. Starting at the Parish Kirk I discovered that the spire is one of the tallest in Scotland. Finishing at St Mary's and St Peter's Episcopal Church I learned that it replaced an earlier chapel dating back to 1722 which burnt down. It is reputed that legendary composer, George Frideric Handel, played the original organ in the original church. One of many smaller details I probably would have missed without following the trail was the The Holy Royal Arch sign shown in my photo. It is listed as a monument by Historic Environment Scotland and has been a landmark in the town since the 18th Century. The sign was carved in France and erected by Freemason captains of French sailing ships who met in the building, which used to be a coffee shop. The sign has recently been restored so hopefully it will be around for at least another few hundred years. With 25 stops on the trail, these are just a few of the facts that I learned during my walk and I don't want to give too many away as I recommend you try it for yourself. You can download a copy of the heritage trail here. Explore the historic closesA guide to FerrydenHave you ever picked a random place to stay just because you've never heard of it before or because it has a pretty name? I like to do this from time to time as I find it one of the best ways to uncover new hidden gems and this is how I ended up staying in Ferryden. I was searching for last minute holiday apartments in Scotland for a short break when I came across a reasonably priced one in Ferryden. This is also a benefit that comes with staying outwith tourist hot spots - the overnight rates are usually far cheaper! On further investigation I discovered that this former fishing village is situated opposite Montrose. As I didn't know this part of Scotland too well before my visit, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to rectify that. I booked my accommodation through Airbnb. If you've not used Airbnb before you will receive a £25 discount off your first booking by using my personal link. This doesn't cost you anything extra but I receive a little bit of travel credit if you do.
I immediately fell in love with the quaintness of Ferryden. Characterful buildings and people along with an interesting history were an unexpected surprise. Although it is small, it is the kind of place you need to walk around a few times to take in all the wee quirky details. I have personally found that historic fishing villages in Scotland have more than their fair share of individuality and charm. I've previously written about Footdee in Aberdeenshire and Stromness in Orkney which also fall under this category. It is no wonder that coastal communities seem to hold so much appeal to me. A road-trip around the Kintyre Peninsula
Many people have heard of Kintyre thanks to Sir Paul McCartney's iconic song about the Mull of Kintyre which is situated at the southern end of this Scottish peninsula. However, not so many people make the effort to actually visit this underrated part of Scotland, mainly as it is a bit off the beaten track. It isn't a place you pass through on your way to somewhere else; you really only go there if it is your destination.
In my opinion it is a very worthy destination due to the variety of scenery, engaging history and amount of things to do. It is a compact area which is ideal for a long weekend road-trip. It also makes a great inclusion to a longer west coast road trip in Scotland. Hopefully my guide to things to do in the Kintyre Peninsula will inspire you and help with planning your own trip to this pretty part of Scotland. Where is the Kintyre Peninsula?
The Kintyre Peninsula is on the west coast of Scotland in the southern part of Argyll. It is a narrow strip of land which points down towards Northern Ireland. In fact at its nearest point, Kintyre is only about 12 miles from the Antrim Coast which can be seen just across the water on a clear day.
It runs from the picturesque town of Tarbert in the north to the Mull of Kintyre in the south and as it is only about 40 miles long, its small size makes it an ideal part of Scotland to explore over two or three days. So where is the Mull of Kintyre?
Immortalised by Sir Paul McCartney, the Mull of Kintyre is at the very southern tip of the peninsula - 'Mull' translates to rounded headland. Not only did the former Beatle write a rather famous song about this remote part of Scotland, he also bought a farm in the area where he could escape from the stresses of fame.
The history of Kintyre
The Kintyre Peninsula gained its title 'Scotland's only Mainland Island' thanks to the Norwegian King Magnus Barefoot in 1098 who wanted to add Kintyre to his claim on all the western islands.
A treaty between the Vikings and the Scots stated that Magnus could rule the islands off of the west coast of Scotland separated by water and navigable by a ship. Legend tells that Magnus reached Kintyre in 1093 and decided if his boat could travel around it, then he could also claim Kintyre as one of his 'islands'. To circumnavigate the peninsula, Magnus stood at the helm of his longboat and his followers dragged it across the narrow strip of land which connects West and East Loch Tarbert. As a result Kintyre became part of Norway until it was returned to the Scots in 1266. The Viking occupation is just one of the Kintyre's many interesting historic chapters. Standing stones, ruined chapels, castles and prehistoric caves scattered around the landscape are reminders of the many civilizations that have called this place home over the centuries. Kintyre has also seen its fair share of bloodshed. As you travel around the stunning and peaceful scenery it is hard to imagine that this area was also the setting of another infamous MacDonald massacre. In 1647 approximately 300 men were murdered by The Covenanters at Dunaverty Castle in Southend. My recommended stops around the Kintyre Peninsula
I went on a 2 day road-trip around Kintyre, staying at Machrihanish, about three quarters of the way down the west coast. I followed the coast clockwise around the peninsula, heading down the east coast and back up the west. If you decide to do a similar road-trip, here are my recommended stopping places -
Below is a round-up of what there is to do at each place mentioned and a map of Kintyre with my recommended stopping points Kintyre Peninsula map with my recommended route and stopping placesA 1 day itinerary for exploring Stromness, OrkneyIf you follow my blog, you may have noticed that I have been working with Destination Orkney to try out a range of 1 day themed itineraries which are part of their 'See You at The Weekend' campaign. They are perfect for any visitor but are particularly suited to those short on time or looking for things to do outside the busy summer season. I have already covered a wide variety of topics including coastal walks, Viking history, wartime sites, world heritage attractions and locally made goods. You can find all these blog posts on my Orkney Islands page. For this itinerary, I headed to the historic town of Stromness which is always a delight to visit. I don't think I'll ever get tired of wandering the characterful streets and taking in all the quaint and quirky details. ABOUT STROMNESS Stromness is a town that has been shaped by the sea, with maritime history running through the veins of its winding, narrow streets. Sitting on the fringes of a natural harbour used by Picts and Vikings, increased trade with the New World played a large part in its rapid growth as a town in the 17th and 18th centuries. Wars between Britain and France made the route around the north of Scotland more attractive than the English Channel which resulted in Stromness becoming a popular stopping off point on voyages. The Hudson's Bay Company would regularly stop en-route to and from Canada. Many Orcadians were recruited by them in Stromness and at one point Orcadians made up approx. 3/4 of their workforce in Canada. The town has also seen whaling fleets, herring fleets and even the Royal Navy Grand Fleet which was based in Scapa Flow during the First World War. While various industries have come and gone, the surrounding waters have continued to be a valuable asset to the local economy. Today Stromness is at the cutting edge of marine renewables and is home to The European Marine Energy Centre which supports developers of wave and tidal energy devices and is the only centre of its kind in the world. However, the town has managed to retain its historic character and in some places away from the cars, it is easy to feel like you have stepped back in time. This suggested day out which starts at the historic harbour area is the perfect introduction to the sea-faring history and contemporary businesses that make Stromness so unique. You might also like to read my guide on where to stay and things to do on a visit to Orkney STROMNESS HARBOUR
|
Follow my Scotland travel adventures on social media
If you have found my blog useful and would like to support me in creating future Scottish travel content, you can by me a coffee on my Ko-fi page. All 'coffee' donations are hugely appreciated
|